A federal judge has dismissed Wheaton College's lawsuit against the Obama administration for requiring the evangelical Christian college to offer health insurance that covers the cost of contraception, including the morning-after pill, for employees. The judge's decision comes just two weeks after the west suburban college was granted an additional year to meet the requirement. U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle ruled that the lawsuit was premature because the government would not...

It is a case of Supreme hypocrisy. The adjective refers to that nine-person tribunal at the top of the American legal system, the noun to its latest act of judicial malpractice. Meaning not the notorious Hobby Lobby decision handed down at the end of June, but a less-noticed ruling a few days later. We have to revisit the former to provide context for the latter. On June 30, the court ruled that a "closely held" corporation may deny employees health insurance covering any contraceptive...

Wheaton College's football team is ranked 13th in the nation in the Lindy Magazine preseason poll among Division III schools. The team also is ranked 23rd in a poll released by the Sporting News. Lindy's also named senior Spencer Clark as first-team preseason All-American at center. Wheaton opens its 2014 campaign at McCully Stadium on Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. against Coe College. -Jeff Vorva, Special to the Tribune

Former Fenwick star Mike Trucco completed his third baseball season at Northwestern. Trucco, a backup catcher and first baseman, appeared in 15 games and made his first career start against Wheaton College early in the season. He recorded his first career double in that contest. -Jeff Vorva, Special to the Tribune

College cafeteria food is known more for mystery meat than as the makings of a scrumptious holiday feast. But at Wheaton College, which consistently gets high marks for its campus food, its fare appeals beyond just the campus community. Now, the private Christian college is offering takeout sides, such as mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping and scalloped potatoes, for the public to supplement Christmas dinners. The offering is an extension of the college's "From...

Wheaton College's football team is ranked 13th in the nation in the Lindy Magazine preseason poll among Division III schools. The team also is ranked 23rd in a poll released by the Sporting News. Lindy's also named senior Spencer Clark as first-team preseason All-American at center. Wheaton opens its 2014 campaign at McCully Stadium on Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. against Coe College. -Jeff Vorva, Special to the Tribune

Alumni from Wheaton College have formed an organization to provide support for the gay community on the conservative Christian campus. OneWheaton seeks to offer "a safe space" for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community, said group spokeswoman Kristin Winn. The LGBTQ community, according to Winn, is not widely accepted on campus because of the school's official position against "homosexual behavior. " Organizers began reaching out to students last...

The Supreme Court gave Wheaton College a temporary exemption from birth control coverage required by President Barack Obama's health reform law, days after ruling that for-profit employers can opt out for religious reasons. The court said on Thursday in a split 6-3 decision by the justices that Wheaton College, which has objected on religious grounds, did not have to comply with the government compromise process for nonprofit groups with...

Wheaton College wants to add student housing and make other changes to its campus properties, drawing some questions and concerns from residents who live near the school's buildings in the west suburb. The college owns several of the houses surrounding its campus, which lies largely between President Street and Washington Street near downtown Wheaton. Plans call for demolishing two of them and making the upgrades to make three of them ready for students to live in this fall,...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court gave a Christian college in Illinois a temporary exemption from birth control coverage required by President Barack Obama's health reform law, days after ruling that for-profit employers can opt out for religious reasons. The court said on Thursday in a split 6-3 decision by the justices that Wheaton College, which has objected on religious grounds, did not have to comply with the government compromise process...

Wheaton College wants to build more student housing to meet rising demand, but the plans have drawn some protest from neighbors who say it will affect their quality of life and property values. The college has submitted a zoning application to the city for a $2.5 million project to construct five new town home-style buildings at the corner of Harrison and Irving avenues, which would provide enough beds for 48 students. All but one Wheaton council member threw their support behind...

Wheaton College's men's soccer team added seven new players for next season and six are from out of state. But one is close to home. Wheaton resident and Wheaton Academy standout Marshall West committed to the school. He was a first-team All-State selection and an NSCAA National High School Player of the Year. "You want central defenders who are big, who are composed at all times, and who have incredible vision on the pitch. Those three qualities describe Marshall perfectly.

Wheaton College has appealed a federal judge's decision to dismiss its lawsuit against the Obama administration for requiring the evangelical Christian college to offer health insurance that covers the cost of contraception, including the morning-after pill, for employees. The judge's ruling, which called the lawsuit premature, came just two weeks after the west suburban college was granted an additional year to comply with the mandate. Previously, Wheaton did not...

Internet: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; chicago-fire.com. Jack McCarthy's quick look: The Fire are back in action following an 11-day break, hosting the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in U.S. Open Cup play at Toyota Park. They beat the Riverhounds 3-2 in the only previous meeting in 2001 at Wheaton College, also an Open Cup clash. The Fire are in improved health with the return of forward Mike Magee and midfielders Logan Pause and Alex from injuries. Pittsburgh forward Collins John played for the...

National championship trophies in other sports may dot Wheaton College's trophy cases, but the small Christian liberal arts school has never seen football success quite like this year. The Thunder are just one win away from its first NCAA Division III championship game appearance, and the final hurdle is longtime nemesis Mt. Union. The two teams meet in an NCAA semifinal clash Saturday in Alliance, Ohio, where Mt. Union is located. The...

The following items were taken from Wheaton police reports: A cell phone was taken from a business in the 100 block of Geneva Road around 10:15 a.m. on June 6. Blue spray paint was discovered on the wood boarding up windows of a building in the 100 block of N. Hale Street around 6 p.m. on June 4. A catalytic converter was removed from a vehicle parked in the commuter lot in the 1200 block of E. Crescent Street between 7:15 a.m. and 6...

A judge Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed against Wheaton College by an alumnus who said the school released private information about him and damaged his business relationship with former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Wheaton College graduate David John sued his alma mater last year, saying the college had hurt his reputation and business dealings as an outgrowth of a custody dispute between John and a woman whose family had connections to college...

Wheaton College wants to expand the Marion E. Wade Center on its campus, citing a need for more space because of increased interest in its British authors research collection. Wheaton city council members gave their preliminary support Monday, voting to have an attorney draft a ordinance in support of the college's request for a special use permit. College officials want to build a 1,900-square-foot, one-story addition to the center on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Washington...

Wheaton College says it has fired a professor accused of possessing child pornography. The dismissal was announced Thursday as Donald E. Ratcliff, 60, pleaded not guilty during an arraignment in a DuPage County courtroom. He is charged with seven counts of felony child pornography. Ratcliff, who was arrested earlier this month, is being held on $300,000 bail. Authorities say they have discovered hundreds of illicit images on computers seized when Ratcliff's Carol...

Wheaton College team ranked Wheaton College's men's tennis team was ranked 14th in the nation in Division III by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and knocked off No. 12 Grinnell, 5-4. The Thunder won 12 of its first 14 matches on the season. Freshman Brent Westergren from Wheaton North is the only local player on the roster and received spot time so far. He is 1-1 in singles play and 1-1 in doubles play. -Jeff Vorva, Special to the Tribune